New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-28
now THE WATER TOWERS WORK.
THEY ARE MOVABLE STAND PIPES.
THE FORCE OF FOUR ENGINES IN ONE sTREAM--A
SWIVEL PIPE ATTACHED.

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THE FORCE OF FOUR ENGINES IN ONE sTREAM--A
SWIVEL PIPE ATTACHED.
That exceedingly useful adjunct of the Fire Depart
ment Of this city known the water tower" which
has been instrumental In saving millions OF dollars
worth Of property Is well known here that il seems
strange that any in any place should not know OF It.
But that its fair fame has not extended many miles
from this city is attested by the following letter.
| To me Edftor OF The Tribune
| SIR In a recent account of largo fire we noticed
that at critical moment the water tower" was sent
for In this suburban village such thing IL unknown
VIII yOu kindly enlghten VS. : l. r."
Washington, d. O., May II, 1887.
The water tower the invention Of Abner Greenleaf
OF Baltimore, who spent many in perfecting IT, and
after many dscouraging failures turned out machine
that after being thoroughly tested adopted By tho
Fire Commissioners here IN 1873 1t taken hold OF
at first mainly experiment there many
perenced aremen who doubted its efficiency. but it
finally grew in favor by the excellent work IL performed
and the city would suffer exceedingly without IL.
Tie machine is simple affair and the wonder is that it
not thought OF long before II consists OF four
wheel carriage which ia mounted heavy iron plat
form The tower may be described portable stand
pipe which is carried In four sections The base lower
section of the stand pipe is fixed to the platform 1t is
fourteen feet and six inches In length and when in
use lies horizontally framework and the machine
has the appearance when at of a long mounted gun.
The other sections or the pipe carried In racks az the
side of the patorn and are twelve feet and nineteen
feet in length respectively. The fourth section is pipe
at the nozzle The fittings are such that the stand pine
may be raised to height of thirty or fty feet depend
ing upon the elevation of the building 1t Is to be used on
The sections put together with couplings similar 10
those used TO join lengths OF fire hose only they
sidera5y larger The diameter OF the pipe the
nine inches and the size is gradually diminished by the
pipe being tapered TO the extreme end. There six
MOBILES with the machine. ranging from b to 2s inches
IN diameter The most serviceable one Is the y nozzle
The water is served 10 the machine through large
ton pipe AT the end OF which Is fOurway connection in
which there are four 2e inch inlets for water.
The tower is managed At fire by captain and three
fTemen who thoroughly familiar with ts working.
II does every fire. except those that in the
third alarm. or by special call When at a fire the
tower driven directly in front OF the burning building
As this u dangerous place the horses are removed at
The remen then get the tower ready for The
platform is made level by ackscrews The sections OF
nifty feet high the twelve foot section is used only This
gives an elevation OF thirty feet II the fire is In the
upper part of higher building the third or longest
ton is adjusted bringing the tower TO Its fll height OF
nozzle Is then attached This Is OF flexible pipe The
swivel guy ropes are then adjusted and hauled taut,
which to brace the tower against the heavy water
pressure All this Is done while the tremen stand IN the
street When all IS ready the command is given: Hoist
away" one of the hremcn jumps on the platform and
raises the tower with hand-wheel Heavy oogwheels
working In tccth arranged on half circle are used for
this purpose When the tower perpendicular the nozzle
points to the rear OF the machine by working another
wheel the standing column Is turned OF It's axis facing
last aud this where the power from.
to the discharge pipe of four different engines Usually
three used and this that the from the
tower and sent in solid stream into the burning build
Ing. The nozzle be elevated depressed to any
angle and the staDd pipe can he turned IN any direction
that thc water can be thrown into any part Of the
building desired Water il thus poured into building
where IL could never be- otherwise rrsiche !.
swivel pipe the invention Of Assistant Chief Bonner
can be attached 70 the platform OF The tower When the
fire down from the upper stories. Four engines
are attached to this pipe and 1t throW' stream 80 so
mat II has carried pieces OF heavy brick wall
when wording at high pressure When the swivel pipe
and both at work the water Om eight engines
he directed to where the flames herccst and
the fire that get away from this combination would
burn II river turned upon IL
The Fire Department here has three water towers.
Two in active service the other il kept 40 spare
tower. Two towers are sometimes used on corner
building the side and front and the fire then fades
away II disappointed The tower does the best work
MP u seventy ye feet There buildings In this city
high that the could not bo used upon them ana
the Fire Department insists when such buildings are put
lp that the upper stories shall be absolutely hreprOO